FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[GoldandBlueBU]

Only another six weeks or so before the Johnnies report for camp!

That depresses me because summer slips by way too quickly. 

I run into the same paradox.  Summer is my favorite time of the year, and does indeed seem to end so quickly...so I feel guilty for getting excited that football season is fast approaching.  Days are already getting shorter.

[Tom Thumb]

Looks like St. Thomas has two additional recruits playing in the Minnesota All-Star game this Saturday.  I believe WRs Patrick Flaherty and Trace Adams were the late recruits. 

FB Sends 9

The 2012 St. Thomas football recruiting class has 16 players chosen to play in various all-star games. That includes nine in-state recruits preparing for Saturday's Minnesota Shrine Bowl All-Star Game in St. Cloud. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

The 44-man North team includes four future Tommies:

--WR Patrick Flaherty of Grand Rapids;

--OL David Simmet of Hill-Murray;

--DE Kit Snyder of Wayzata;

--RB Esten Weber of Dawson-Boyd.

The 44-man South roster includes five UST commits:

--WR Trace Adams of Hutchinson;

--DL Brett Bremer of Hopkins;

--OL Connor Longhenry of Glencoe-Silver Lake;

--LB Tim McClanahan of Cretin-Derham Hall;

--LB T.J. Patrias of Holy Angels.

Three Tommie recruits were among 24 seniors voted Minnesota first-team all-staters: Snyder, McClanahan and punter/PK Paul Graupner of Benilde-St. Margaret's.

Link: http://www.tommiesports.com/bsbl/news/Blog_6-26.html

[faunch]

Looks like St. Thomas has two additional recruits playing in the Minnesota All-Star game this Saturday.  I believe WRs Patrick Flaherty and Trace Adams were the late recruits. 

FB Sends 9

The 2012 St. Thomas football recruiting class has 16 players chosen to play in various all-star games. That includes nine in-state recruits preparing for Saturday's Minnesota Shrine Bowl All-Star Game in St. Cloud. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

The 44-man North team includes four future Tommies:

--WR Patrick Flaherty of Grand Rapids;

--OL David Simmet of Hill-Murray;

--DE Kit Snyder of Wayzata;

--RB Esten Weber of Dawson-Boyd.

The 44-man South roster includes five UST commits:

--WR Trace Adams of Hutchinson;

--DL Brett Bremer of Hopkins;

--OL Connor Longhenry of Glencoe-Silver Lake;

--LB Tim McClanahan of Cretin-Derham Hall;

--LB T.J. Patrias of Holy Angels.

Three Tommie recruits were among 24 seniors voted Minnesota first-team all-staters: Snyder, McClanahan and punter/PK Paul Graupner of Benilde-St. Margaret's.

Link: http://www.tommiesports.com/bsbl/news/Blog_6-26.html

Not sure how much stock I'd put in these All-Star Rosters considering that 7 is the most players a program like SJU has ever had play in the game.  I'd be interested to know how much of an impact former "All-Star" players have made at the next level.  If memory severs I don't believe Blake Elliot was on the All-Star squad.  I also know that coaches politics also can play a role in which players get selected. 

This link should take you to a historical list: http://www.allstarfootball.org/HISTORY/MNallstaryear.pdf

[Johnnie Red]

I got to meet UST baseball coach Chris Olean last Friday at the Lions' high school all-star tournament in Chaska. SJU coach Jerry Haugen introduced me to him. Seemed like a nice guy.

Speaking of the days of summer, hard to believe it is almost July 4th. It will be so nice to spend some time on Kego Lake near Longville!

[faunch]

Only another six weeks or so before the Johnnies report for camp!

That depresses me because summer slips by way too quickly. 

I run into the same paradox.  Summer is my favorite time of the year, and does indeed seem to end so quickly...so I feel guilty for getting excited that football season is fast approaching.  Days are already getting shorter.

For those of you looking to get an early football fix...on Saturday Aug. 25 the Hopkins Royals will host Episcopal High School out of Houston, TX.  They've got a beast of a QB...see link below.  Some websites I've checked have him ranked as a top 2 to top 5 QB in Texas.  Could be a long afternoon for the Royals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wdr6jA0UNA

[DuffMan]

I'd be interested to know how much of an impact former "All-Star" players have made at the next level.  If memory severs I don't believe Blake Elliot was on the All-Star squad.

Elliot was not, but in looking through the list from my high school class ('99), there were quite a few players from that game that made an impact in the MIAC (there are also quite a few that made an impact in DII and DI).  I'm missing some whose names I recognize but I can't remember where they went.

-Jake Barkley - U$T (back when they were UST)
-Derek Flann - Concoridia (I believe)
-Andy Traetow - GAC
-Josh Dirlam - SJU
-Cam McCambridge - SJU
-Justin Bundy - SJU
-Ross Denne - SJU
-Jason Pflipsen - SJU

Of course, there are gobs of talented players that don't get selected to the all-state team, but on the whole, they are some of the better players in the state, I would say.  Grabbing an all-stater doesn't guarantee anything, though.  Tim Moore played in the all-star game as an o-lineman.  He went to SJU and didn't even end up playing, and frankly, I cannot even imagine Timmy doing anything athletic!

[GoldandBlueBU]

For those of you looking to get an early football fix...on Saturday Aug. 25 the Hopkins Royals will host Episcopal High School out of Houston, TX.  They've got a beast of a QB...see link below.  Some websites I've checked have him ranked as a top 2 to top 5 QB in Texas.  Could be a long afternoon for the Royals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wdr6jA0UNA

Wow, those are some impressive tosses for a youngster.

May have to wander over to Hopkins and check that out, if I remember, and if the free time exists.

[Retired Old Rat]

Only another six weeks or so before the Johnnies report for camp!

That depresses me because summer slips by way too quickly. 

I run into the same paradox.  Summer is my favorite time of the year, and does indeed seem to end so quickly...so I feel guilty for getting excited that football season is fast approaching.  Days are already getting shorter.

For those of you looking to get an early football fix...on Saturday Aug. 25 the Hopkins Royals will host Episcopal High School out of Houston, TX.  They've got a beast of a QB...see link below.  Some websites I've checked have him ranked as a top 2 to top 5 QB in Texas.  Could be a long afternoon for the Royals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wdr6jA0UNA

Does Hopkins have grass?  If so, I recommend turning the sprinklers on Friday night and turning them off just before kickoff.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Hopkins High has artificial turf.

[faunch]

Not sure if anybody out there watches Louie...season 3 starts tmrw night on FX.  If you're have a sensitive nature it's not a show for you.

http://www.uproxx.com/webculture/2012/06/the-best-of-louis-ck-louie/#page/1

[Tom Thumb]

Looks like St. Thomas has two additional recruits playing in the Minnesota All-Star game this Saturday.  I believe WRs Patrick Flaherty and Trace Adams were the late recruits. 

FB Sends 9

The 2012 St. Thomas football recruiting class has 16 players chosen to play in various all-star games. That includes nine in-state recruits preparing for Saturday's Minnesota Shrine Bowl All-Star Game in St. Cloud. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

The 44-man North team includes four future Tommies:

--WR Patrick Flaherty of Grand Rapids;

--OL David Simmet of Hill-Murray;

--DE Kit Snyder of Wayzata;

--RB Esten Weber of Dawson-Boyd.

The 44-man South roster includes five UST commits:

--WR Trace Adams of Hutchinson;

--DL Brett Bremer of Hopkins;

--OL Connor Longhenry of Glencoe-Silver Lake;

--LB Tim McClanahan of Cretin-Derham Hall;

--LB T.J. Patrias of Holy Angels.

Three Tommie recruits were among 24 seniors voted Minnesota first-team all-staters: Snyder, McClanahan and punter/PK Paul Graupner of Benilde-St. Margaret's.

Link: http://www.tommiesports.com/bsbl/news/Blog_6-26.html

Not sure how much stock I'd put in these All-Star Rosters considering that 7 is the most players a program like SJU has ever had play in the game.  I'd be interested to know how much of an impact former "All-Star" players have made at the next level.  If memory severs I don't believe Blake Elliot was on the All-Star squad.  I also know that coaches politics also can play a role in which players get selected. 

This link should take you to a historical list: http://www.allstarfootball.org/HISTORY/MNallstaryear.pdf

While I would agree that there is a level of politics involved in who gets to go to the All-Star game, the fact remains that the talent level of the average player selected to play in the game is considerably higher than the average HS football player.  My senior class (2003) had John Shevlin, Trevor Laws, and Tony Brinkhouse playing in the All-Star game.  The MIAC was able to grab some great recruits from the game.  Below is a list of MIAC players who also played in the game:

-Mike Hara UST
-Mike Rouse UST
-Phil Porta BU
-Steve Levoir SJU
-Kirby Carr BU
-Alex Kofoed SJU
-Mike Lofboom SJU

With the exception of Mike Hara, all of these players were All-MIAC in 2006. Not a bad looking class if you ask me.  I must admit, I did run across a few All-Staters that were pretty worthless, but for the most part they were good ballplayers.  However, at the end of the day I believe success will come down to the average recruit and how motivated they are to win.

[hazzben]

While I would agree that there is a level of politics involved in who gets to go to the All-Star game, the fact remains that the talent level of the average player selected to play in the game is considerably higher than the average HS football player.  My senior class (2003) had John Shevlin, Trevor Laws, and Tony Brinkhouse playing in the All-Star game.  The MIAC was able to grab some great recruits from the game.  Below is a list of MIAC players who also played in the game:

-Mike Hara UST
-Mike Rouse UST
-Phil Porta BU
-Steve Levoir SJU
-Kirby Carr BU
-Alex Kofoed SJU
-Mike Lofboom SJU
-Jamie Wagner BU

With the exception of Mike Hara, all of these players were All-MIAC in 2006. Not a bad looking class if you ask me.  I must admit, I did run across a few All-Staters that were pretty worthless, but for the most part they were good ballplayers.  However, at the end of the day I believe success will come down to the average recruit and how motivated they are to win.

In general, most kids playing in the All Star game are very good athletes and top recruits. There is certainly politics involved in the selection process, but these are all probably solid players.

That said, there are plenty of guys who don't make these teams and end up as All-conference or All-America contributors in college. Some are late bloomers. Some played on terrible teams or in systems that didn't highlight their talents.

I will say this, at least it appears MN isn't as asinine as Iowa in the selection process. In Iowa, the most any HS team could have was one player in the Shrine Bowl game. There are consistent instances of teams with multiple all-state players who only get one player in the game. Usually, the honor goes to whichever kid is playing at the most 'prestigious' football college. This just always seemed silly to me. My Sr year a local school won back to back state titles, and as a 2A team had two players make the Elite All-State team (One team, made of the best players, without regard for class affiliation). Only the ISU recruit got to play in the game. Just dumb.

Ok, now I'm done with that rant! 

[Tom Thumb]

Thanks for the add.  I forgot about Mr. Wagner.  He was a good player as well.

[faunch]

Thanks for the add.  I forgot about Mr. Wagner.  He was a good player as well.

And a 9 man high school player as well.  My bro was his high school coach.

[Tom Thumb]

MIAC has eight BSN Football Preseason All-America selections
6/26/2012

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- With the 2011-12 spring sports season in the books, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) has turned its gaze towards the 2012 fall season. Monday, the first preseason honors of the new campaign were released, as eight MIAC football players were named Preseason All-Americans by Beyond Sports Network (BSN).

BSN released its 2012 Preseason All-America teams for FCS, Division II, Division III and the NAIA. The Division III squad featured First, Second and Third teams and an Honorable Mention list. All eight MIAC selections were named to one of the top three squads, with two on the First, two on the second and four on the third team.

St. Thomas offensive lineman Curtis James and Saint John's defensive back Bobby Fischer were the MIAC's two First Team selections. James is a senior for the defending-MIAC-champion Tommies, and Fischer returns as the Johnnies' senior leader on defense in 2012.

Two of James' teammates - defensive lineman Riley Dombek and defensive back Chinni Oji - were both selected to the Second Team, while two more UST players - linebacker Harry Pitera and punter Garrett Maloney - were named to the Third Team. Joining them on the Third Team was Bethel offensive lineman Josh Wolfe and Concordia offensive lineman Tom Knowlton.

The Beyond Sports Network honors student-athletes with its BSN Athletes of the Week and its BSN All-America teams. The Beyond Sports College Network is free for all college students, student-athletes, coaches and staff to join, and has been declared compliant by the NCAA since anyone associated with a college or university can join for free and student-athletes or award recipients do not receive any benefits.

The 2012 MIAC football season will kick off on Sept. 1, with seven of the conferences' nine teams making their season debut in nonconference action. Conference games will begin Sept. 15, and the regular season will conclude with the final week of MIAC action on Nov. 10. The 2012 MIAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll will be released in late August, with other preseason polls and honors scheduled for release throughout the coming months.

http://miac-online.org/news/2012/6/26/FOOTBALL_0626125757.aspx